Is Bell Canada trying to kill NowPublic?

by mtippett | February 17, 2009 at 03:46 pm

565 views | 74 Recommendations | 19 comments

Steve Anderson of Save Our Internet, asks:

Will the next NowPublic, Rabble.ca, or Raincity Studios be scared away by the impending ISP gatekeepers?"

He's talking about Bell and other carriers are controlling people's access to their favourite websites and online services. He says:

The open Internet is under threat by the very companies that bring it into our homes and workplaces—Internet service providers. These big telecommunications companies want to become gatekeepers of the Internet, deciding on-line winners and losers, and making our on-line choices for us. Big telecom companies are trying to do away with the governing guidelines of the Internet called “Net neutrality” (or “common carriage”). Net neutrality requires that ISPs not discriminate between content and services. Net neutrality protects our ability to direct our own on-line activities, and also maintains a level playing field for on-line innovation.

Bell Canada and other major Internet service providers are already slowing down (“throttling”) on-line peer-to-peer applications. In essence, this means we, the users of the Internet, already do not have access to all the Internet has to offer. If you’re trying to watch a CBC show on-line and it takes a day to download, as audience members reported last February, the limitations are quite real. In addition to manipulating its own customers’ use of the Internet, Bell also “shapes” traffic passing through its network from independent ISPs like Teksavvy Solutions, thereby also limiting one of its few competitors from offering open access to the Internet.

So if you don't want the Internet to start looking like your TV or costing as much as your cell phone then you should do something about it. Let the CRTC know that a free and open net is something you value. If you don't, the Internet you now know and love may not survive.

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mtippett

at 16:13 on February 17th, 2009

Typically I don't self recommend but I thought this would be of interest to NowPublic members.

Maurice Cardinal (not verified)

at 16:32 on February 17th, 2009

Of course Bell is trying to kill NP, but you can't fault them for it.

It's how corporate capitalism and competition work.

What you can do however is defend yourself by making sure everyone in your sphere knows how the game is played.

Most people don't realize it is illegal for a director of a corporation to NOT do everything legally in his or her power to increase the value of their company's stock.

Killing the competition would certainly elevate one's share price, but you don't have to die without a fight.

Send Bell a message and read "The Corporation" by UBC prof Joel Bakan for more info ... or rent the movie.

peter.reardon

at 20:59 on February 17th, 2009

Thanks for this essential information on what appears to be nothing less than intimidation by Bell Canada to monitor and control the internet.

Is this the way of the internet of the future? Corporate interests controlling who will write, and monitoring what shall be written?

A question to NP:

Could NP compose a generic letter of concern of the apparent predatory activity by Bell Canada that would be displayed on NowPublic for readers to sign and sent to Bell Canada and local politicians throughout Canada objecting to this infringement of the Right of Expression?

We have to ask ourselves whether or not democracy, and NowPublic, are worth writing for...

Blue Crush

at 20:06 on February 17th, 2009

Related NP story, Canada: Giving Our Internet Some Love

Sanjay Jha

at 21:07 on February 17th, 2009

Very interesting post. Thanks very much for bringing it to us.

Paschen

at 21:13 on February 17th, 2009

We did have a couple of post out over the course of the last few month going into that direction and sounding the alarm bells so to speak. The threat is real and the concequences will affect freedom of speech and freedom of the Press. This is not a Canadian problem or threat alone. Europe, Australia, Asia even some African Countries are moving into that direction in support of such moves as by Bell to control the Internet. I did write a couple of post to that regard my self and personally I do believe the treat to be real and worry. Maybe why I write about it so much.

Paschen

at 21:15 on February 17th, 2009

We could use a channel with all the post to that regard around the Globe even those that ended up in the Forum... :-) It is time to wake up.

azzayindia

at 21:17 on February 17th, 2009

freedom

Paschen

at 21:28 on February 17th, 2009

There is the name of that channel. FREEDOM. Compiling all info and post about moves against Freedom of expression and freedom of the press around the globe. The Internet was to come next and we missed to counter it early enough.

Thank you azzayindia.

Paschen

at 22:21 on February 17th, 2009

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/are-days-free-speech-count-down

http://my.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/papyrus-internet-news-any-better-now

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/mcgruff-crime-fighting-dog-back

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/montreal-police-want-crush-your-freedom-speech

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/double-click-free-speech-and-fair-play

http://my.nowpublic.com/culture/nowpublic-com-and-media-work-media-practice

http://my.nowpublic.com/tech-biz/google-wants-its-own-fast-track-web-0

http://my.nowpublic.com/free_speech_will_it_survive

Now, i could go on, since those are just a sample of what we have here at NP and we do have a lot on the subject, some is great, some is not, some I can support and others I can not... However the point being, many have seen this coming a long long time ago. Moreover many have been trying to find ways to preserve Free Speech and NP as well.

Fred Miller

at 07:36 on February 18th, 2009

Meanwhile back at the ranch........

I was faced with the bandwidth-throttle issue when the local Satellite and ISP providers started joining forces and offering Upgrades to HDTV all-in-one service on one bill, which is great but only if you have an HDTV-enabled set. The current setup throttles and compresses the picture to fit on my screen, which is what the whole DTV Transition box is doing and which they don't have enough of to go around. As for the ISPs, they are offering blazing download speeds but only if you don't overwhelm their servers (which is common practice for all the File Download maniacs).

But I digress. Sorry !

Join wherever you can find a space for your voice before you lose it :

http://my.nowpublic.com/node/2189758/file/ff/9/ff9e013121f081c90e4e938442445b49.jpg

youngturk

at 22:46 on February 17th, 2009

I dont see how they want to try and kill a social news site. But ok. I voted it up anyways!

pokoroto

at 23:44 on February 17th, 2009

"Broadband" in Canada barely qualifies as broadband to begin with. If business is all that is important, other Canadian businesses had better get off the fence and go after Bell/Rogers.

Internet based collaboration software is becoming increasingly important for all businesses and if Bell/Rogers would stop shaping Skype it would allow Canadian businesses to compete worldwide.

A software developer in Vancouver needs high speed full throttle internet to compete, a movie maker in Winnipeg needs to be able to send content worldwide using the internet, Canadian newspapers needs eyes worldwide to attract advertising, a doctor in Dead Cat Sask. needs to be able to send and receive huge MRI scan files to and from Toronto, and the CBC needs to have its programs distributed by BitTorrent or the BBC will run them out of business.

I believe that throughout history societies that have enabled as much information possible to be distributed to as many people possible at the lowest price possible have prospered the most and societies that have restricted information flows have not prospered so much.

Save Canadian business; kill Bell.

car1edb

at 00:05 on February 18th, 2009

Time to change isp's then? one that doesn't route over bell - peer1, metrobridge, etc.

or time to start you your own interweb...? before they tax the crap out of this one...

Iffy (not verified)

at 00:11 on February 18th, 2009

Canada is not a free country. If you look at Canada with sober eyes (not drunk on Liberal Party propaganda from the past), you will notice vigorous censorship of the media and it is not a surprise censorship of the 'net is taking place. Canada has traded freedom of expression and free speech for keeping the peace with the panopoly of multicultural groups that jerk the strings of the government and its institutions. Canadians interested in free speech and a dynamic media, have to leave the country.

Barry Artiste

at 06:35 on February 18th, 2009

Excellent story and commentary, but will it prevent spam? I doubt it. That to me would be the real issue to stop!

Wakiza (not verified)

at 06:43 on February 26th, 2009

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